Friday, July 28, 2006

clarification, part deux

While I came out on the side of Israel when this war started, and I still support Israel in general, there must be some other way to address the eternal problems that provoked this conflict. The response of Israel, which seems essentially to be to demolish Lebanon, is overwrought. They should take the upper hand and appear reasonable, although I fear the damage has gone too far and may now be irreparable.

1 comment:

John said...

...there must be some other way to address the eternal problems that provoked this conflict.

Must there? Israel is surrounded by people who deny its right to exist. Israel was attacked and has responded. Do you really imagine that you can have a reasonable chat with Hezbollah?

War is unpleasant, civilian casualties are tragic, and the pictures heart-rending. That doesn't make the operation wrong. What do we think Hezbollah deserves? The military equivalent of a smack on the wrist.

This cycle could go on forever: Israel is attacked; Israel responds; media broadcast pictures of dead civilians; World gets squeamish; calls for restraint; ceasefire. Ceasefire happens; temporary settlement reached... Israel is attacked; Israel...

There won't and can't be peace in the Middle East until Israel's neighbours accept its right to exist. Don't see Hezbollah doing that any time soon, and last I heard Iran wanted to wipe Israel off the map.

Tea, anyone.